Residents of Trinityville, St Thomas, have been experiencing major difficulty in implementing a public health programme recommended by the St Thomas Health Department.

The department earlier this year made recommendations that the outdated and inadequate sanitary conveniences for older houses in the district be upgraded. As such, several modernised outdoor latrines were to be built.

Unreliable water supply in some areas had pushed residents to construct 'pit latrines' that did not meet the department's standard. But residents say the cost of building the latrines, at a steep $80,000, is too much.

no ready cash

Lenworth Rawle, councillor for the division, confirmed that the residents would not be able to have the latrines ready for the department's scheduled inspection. He said some household owners are out of work and do not have the ready cash for the construction.

He made an appeal to the Health authorities to assist the residents in sourcing the funds needed to build the latrines in time.

Pauline Ellington, chief public health inspector, explained however, that the department can only offer limited assistance to residents and most of the facilities built in other areas were completed through community support and collaboration, or through limited specially funded projects.

She urged the communities to partner with each other, and the Social Development Commission to get the funds to complete the necessary construction.